Siren intermedia
lesser siren

Siren intermedia, the Lesser Siren, ranges from the Coastal Plains of Virginia to Florida, then westward to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. Populations extend northward in the Mississippi Valley to Illinois, Indiana, and southwestern Michigan. Geographic isolates occur in northern Indiana, southwest Michigan, northeastern North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia.(Petranka 1998) This range is occupied by three subspecies, they are S. i. intermedia, S. i. nettingi, and S. i. texana. All of these subspecies only vary slightly in physical characteristics such as length and color (Conant and Collins, 1998).

Siren intermedia will inhabit most any slow and sluggish body of water that is shallow and with plenty of aquatic vegetation, including marshes, ponds, ditches, and canals. In most circumstances they need a permanent or semi-permanent body of water but they are able to move short distances over land if factors are right or stay encased in a cocoon of slime if drought occurs. (Conant and Collins, 1998 (Expanded 3rd Ed.); Harding, 1997)

Siren intermedia is an eel-like salamander with a long slender body (18-68 cm long) and a very small dorsal fin that runs from the vent to the tail tip. It has only a pair of front legs; each foot has four toes. The front legs are very reduced and the rear legs are completely absent. The head is rather flattened, and there are bushy external gills located on each side of the head. Siren intermedia varies in coloration from light grayish green to olive or black; there are also small irregular markings (dots) that are visible on lighter colored individuals.

Larvae and juveniles are more brightly marked, with a red band across the nose and along the side of the head. (Conant and Collins, 1998 (Expanded 3rd Ed.); Harding, 1997; Petranka, 1998)

Siren intermedia is a nocturnal species, which may minimize predation risks from diurnal predators such as fish and wading birds.(Petranka 1998) It spends the daylight period hidden in debris on the bottom of bodies of shallow water or burrowed in the mud and vegetation. In the case that the water dries up, Siren intermedia will burrow into the mud were it can survive for months. In this situation the siren's skin glands will secrete a substance that will dry and form a cocoon over the body (except for the mouth), protecting the siren from drying up until the water returns.

Siren intermedia is very vocal, which is unusual for a salamander. It communicates with clicks when other sirens are around and when disturbed or attacked by a predator it will emit a very shrill call (Harding 1997).

Siren intermedia feeds primarily on aquatic invertebrates such as crustaceans, insect larvae, worms, and snails. They will also readily consume young amphibian larvae and their own eggs. Siren intermedia often feeds by gulping large quantities of material at a time, which is filtered through the bronchial openings. Vegetable matter sometimes found in their digestive tracts is probably eaten accidentally.

On occasion a Siren might take a fisherman's baited hook, but this would be an uncommon and minor annoyance. These animals are properly considered harmless to human interests.

Sirens are occasionally used for fish bait, but this species normally attracts little attention from humans. They occupy a predatory niche in shallow freshwater habitats, and have ecological value in the environment.

Siren intermedia is extremely rare and possibly extirpated in Michigan but this species is not threatened over most of its range. It could be harmed by chemicals such as Rotenone, which is used as a fisheries management tool and can be fatal to aquatic amphibians such as Siren intermedia. Another factor that may affect the vitality of this species is habitat destruction and the filling in of wetlands.